Survival capacity of Arcobacter butzleri at different incubation temperatures in drinking water

Arcobacter represents a zoonotic emerging pathogen with increasing importance for public health and drinking water has been cited as a major risk factor for its dissemination. The aim of this work was to evaluate the survival capacity of Arcobacter in different water matrixes stored at different temperatures. Three different water matrixes were used, including potable water with a chlorine concentration of 0,5 mg/mL, non-chlorinated water and non-chlorinated water added with an 11% of organic matter. Each matrix was inoculated in a 1/10 proportion with 103 and 105 Arcobacter pools, divided into 4 different subsamples, in order to be incubated at 0°C, 5°C, 12 °C and 25°C by up to 15 days. The presence of Arcobacter in each matrix was determined on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. Results obtained show that this bacterium can survive in all the water matrixes evaluated, regardless of the presence or not of residual disinfecting agent. Also, the amount of CFU/mL inoculated in water correlates with the number of bacteria that can survive on it, and that incubation temperature has a significant effect over the bacterial survival.

Quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to verify the quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: cross-sectional study with 68 outpatients, candidates for bariatric surgery, at university hospital in the Southern Brazil. Data collection was carried out by telephone, with questions about the profile of the participants and social distancing; questionnaires on quality of life and eating habits were also used. The data analysis, the logistic regression model, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U and Student t-tests were used for independent samples. RESULTS: the general quality of life was 57.03 points and the eating habit with the highest score was cognitive restraint (61.11 points). Most patients (72.1%) were socially distancing themselves and 27.9% had not changed their routine. The chance of isolation was 3.16 times greater for patients who were married. There is a positive correlation between the domains of the Quality of Life questionnaire and cognitive restraint from the questionnaire about eating habits. CONCLUSION: we found that the participants tended to have a better quality of life as cognitive restraint increased.

Quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic / Calidad de vida y conducta alimentaria de pacientes con obesidad durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Qualidade de vida e comportamento alimentar de pacientes com obesidade durante a pandemia por COVID-19

Objective: to verify the quality of life and eating habits of patients with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: cross-sectional study with 68 outpatients, candidates for bariatric surgery, at university hospital in the Southern Brazil. Data collection was carried out by telephone, with questions about the profile of the participants and social distancing; questionnaires on quality of life and eating habits were also used. The data analysis, the logistic regression model, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U and Student t-tests were used for independent samples. Results: the general quality of life was 57.03 points and the eating habit with the highest score was cognitive restraint (61.11 points). Most patients (72.1%) were socially distancing themselves and 27.9% had not changed their routine. The chance of isolation was 3.16 times greater for patients who were married. There is a positive correlation between the domains of the Quality of Life questionnaire and cognitive restraint from the questionnaire about eating habits. Conclusion: we found that the participants tended to have a better quality of life as cognitive restraint increased.

Objetivo: evaluar la calidad de vida y la conducta alimentaria de los pacientes con obesidad durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudio transversal con 68 pacientes atendidos en un servicio ambulatorio de cirugía bariátrica de un hospital universitario del sur de Brasil. La recolección de datos se realizó por vía telefónica, con preguntas sobre el perfil de los participantes y el distanciamiento social; también se utilizaron cuestionarios sobre calidad de vida y conducta alimentaria. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el modelo de regresión logística, la correlación de Spearman, las pruebas de la U de Mann-Whitney y la t de Student para muestras independientes. Resultados: la calidad de vida general fue de 57,03 puntos y la conducta alimentaria con mayor puntuación fue la restricción cognitiva (61,11 puntos). La mayoría de los pacientes (72,1%) mantenía el distanciamiento social y el 27,9% no habían cambiado la rutina. La probabilidad de adherir al aislamiento fue 3,16 veces mayor para los pacientes casados. Existe una correlación positiva entre los dominios del cuestionario de calidad de vida y la restricción cognitiva de las preguntas sobre la conducta asociada a los hábitos alimentarios. Conclusión: se verificó que los participantes tendían a tener una mejor calidad de vida a medida que aumentaba la restricción cognitiva.

Objetivo: verificar a qualidade de vida e o comportamento alimentar de pacientes com obesidade durante a pandemia por COVID-19. Método: estudo transversal com 68 pacientes atendidos em ambulatório de cirurgia bariátrica em hospital universitário do sul do Brasil. A coleta de dados foi realizada por telefone, com perguntas sobre o perfil dos participantes e o distanciamento social; também foram utilizados questionários de qualidade de vida e de comportamento alimentar. Para a análise de dados, foram utilizados o modelo de regressão logística, a correlação de Spearman e os testes U de Mann-Whitney e t de Student, para amostras independentes. Resultados: a qualidade de vida geral foi de 57,03 pontos e o comportamento alimentar que apresentou maior pontuação foi a restrição cognitiva (61,11 pontos). Grande parte dos pacientes (72,1%) estava fazendo distanciamento social e 27,9% não haviam mudado a rotina. A chance de fazer isolamento foi 3,16 vezes maior para os pacientes que estavam casados. Existe uma correlação positiva entre os domínios do questionário de qualidade de vida e a restrição cognitiva das perguntas sobre o comportamento associado ao hábito alimentar. Conclusão: verificou-se que os participantes apresentaram tendência em ter uma melhor qualidade de vida conforme a restrição cognitiva aumentava.

Sporadic cyclosporiasis in symptomatic Cuban patients: Confirmation of positive results from conventional diagnostic methods by molecular assay.

In Cuba, there are few studies on cyclosporiasis. Here, we report results from 1247 stool samples from symptomatic patients that were examined by microscopy methods and positive cases confirmed by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing. Seven positive samples, all diagnosed during May-June, were confirmed by the molecular method, indicating an occurrence in this patient cohort of 0.56%.

Alice in Wonderland: Unrealized fertility and satisfaction with number of children according to couples' point of view in a city in Brazil / Alice no País das Maravilhas: fecundidade não realizada e satisfação com o número de filhos tidos de acordo com o ponto de vista dos casais em uma cidade do Brasil / Alicia en el País de las Maravillas: fecundidad no realizada y satisfacción con el número de hijos tenidos de acuerdo con el punto de vista de las parejas en una ciudad de Brasil

The gap between ideal and observed fertility is a very common phenomenon in Brazil. However, given the severe criticism of indicators on desired and ideal family sizes, it is important to reflect on how well fertility preferences are grasped by traditional questions. This paper discusses whether having fewer children than desired is a matter of choice or if it represents an inability to implement reproductive preferences, generating dissatisfaction with one´s fertility behavior. Data come from 62 in-depth interviews conducted with 31 couples with high educational levels, living in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with up to two children. Negative discrepant fertility was predominant among most couples interviewed. Many of them, however, are fully satisfied with their current fertility situation and do not seem to be willing to implement their desire for more children.

No Brasil, o hiato entre fecundidade ideal e observada é cada vez mais comum. Paralelamente, perante as severas críticas feitas aos indicadores disponíveis sobre o tamanho desejado/ideal de família, torna-se relevante refletir sobre até que ponto as respostas das pessoas refletem adequadamente suas preferências. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir se ter menos filhos do que o desejado é fruto de uma escolha ou se representa, de fato, uma incapacidade de implementação das preferências reprodutivas e uma insatisfação com o seu comportamento de fecundidade. Utilizam-se dados de 62 entrevistas em profundidade realizadas com 31 com casais de alta escolaridade com até dois filhos, residentes em Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Pode-se verificar que a fecundidade discrepante negativa predominou para a maioria dos casais entrevistados. Nota-se, porém, que uma parte importante destes casais está totalmente satisfeita com a situação atual de fecundidade, já que não pareciam dispostos a efetivar o desejo de aumentar o número de filhos.

La brecha entre ideales de fecundidad y fecundidad observada es cada vez más común en Brasil. Complementariamente, ante las severas críticas a los indicadores disponibles sobre el tamaño deseado e ideal de familia, es importante reflexionar hasta qué punto las respuestas de las personas reflejan adecuadamente sus preferencias reproductivas. El objetivo de este artículo es discutir si tener menos hijos de los deseados se configura como opción o si, de hecho, representa una incapacidad de implementación de las preferencias reproductivas y un descontento con su comportamiento de fecundidad. Se utilizarán datos de entrevistas en profundidad hechas a 31 parejas con alta escolarización, residentes en Belo Horizonte, Brasil, con hasta dos hijos. Si bien se observa que la fecundidad discrepante negativa predomina en la mayoría de las parejas entrevistadas, también se observa que, dentro de esta mayoría, existe una proporción importante totalmente satisfecha con esta situación, que no parecía estar dispuesta a aumentar su número de hijos.

Race and health disparities among seniors in urban areas in Brazil.

Objective. This article examines racial health disparities among the elderly in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It also explores whether these disparities differ among income groups. Methods. The study follows the conceptual framework developed by LaVeist (1994). A multistage analysis and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition are used to explore the sources of racial disparities in health. Results. White seniors report better health than Black seniors. This is the case even after controlling for baseline health conditions and several demographic, socioeconomic, and family support characteristics. Discussion. This article suggests that the two most important factors driving racial disparities in health among seniors are historical differences in rural living conditions and current income. Present economic conditions are more relevant to racial disparities among poor than among rich seniors. Racial differences in health not attributable to observable characteristics are more important when comparing individuals in the upper half of the income distribution.

Dermatosis IgA lineal / Linear IgA dermatosis

La dermatosis IgA lineal es una enfermedad ampollar en general rara, de tipo autoinmune, caracterizada por el depósito lineal de IgA a lo largo de la membrana basal de la epidermis. Considerada al principio como una manifestación de la dermatitis herpetiforme, se sabe en la actualidad, en base a estudios inmunopatológicos e inmunogenéticos, que se trata de una entidad distinta. El rasgo característico es la formación de nuevas ampollas en ôanilloö alrededor de lesiones antiguas. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 14 meses de edad con dermatosis ampollar IgA lineal con buena respuesta al tratamiento convencional.

Seguimiento de un grupo de pacientes con desfibrilador automßtico implantable / Follow-up of a group of patients with automatic implantable defibrillator

The automatic implantable defibrillator (AID) is the treatment of choice for primary and secondary prevention of sudden death. At the Instituto Nacional de CardiologÝa, since October 1996 until January 2002, 25 patients were implanted with 26 AID. There were 23 men (92) and the mean age of the whole group, was 51.4 years. Twenty-three patients (92) presented structural heart disease, the most common was ischemic heart disease in 13 patients (52), with a mean ejection fraction of 37.8. One patient without structural heart disease had Brugada Syndrome. The most frequent clinical arrhythmia was ventricular tachycardia in 14 patients (56). The mean follow-up was of 29.3 months during which a total of 30 events of ventricular arrhythmia were treated through AID; six of them were inappropriate due to paroxismal atrial fibrillation; 10 AID patients (34) have not applied for therapy. Three patients (12) of the group died due to congestive heart failure refractory to pharmacologic treatment. CONCLUSION: The implant of the AID is a safe and effective measure for primary and secondary prevention of sudden death. World-wide experience evidences, that this kind of device has not modified the mortality rate due to heart failure in these patients, but it has diminished sudden arrhythmic death.

Cardioversión interna de la fibrilación auricular crónica / Internal cardioversion in chronic atrial fibrillation

The importance of atrial fibrillation has always motivated the search of new treatment alternatives. Internal cardioversion has been proposed as a choice in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, giving rise to the development of atrial defibrillator. We present the case of a 68 years old patient without structural heart disease and with diagnosis of chronic atrial fibrillation of 10 months of evolution. He received treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs and successful electrical external cardioversion, but he relapsed a week later. For this reason, we decided to perform internal cardioversion with an electrocatheter (DAIG) placed in the coronary sinus through the right jugular vein and under light sedation with propofol (2 mg/kg weight). We applied three shocks of 1, 3, and 5 joules, being able to convert to sinus rhythm without complications. The patient continues under treatment with antiarrhythmic agents. Internal cardioversion has shown to be an effective way for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation, using a light sedation and low energy level to reestablish the sinus rhythm.